It seems so judge books by there covers, like a lot. I was captured by this cover in particular because it seemed like a place that holds tons of history and there must be so many stories to be shared! I’d love to visit a village like the one pictured

Rarely does a book I read begin with a transatlantic flight to Italy. I have no idea what any transatlantic flight might be like as I’ve never been to Europe, however I imagine it would be similar to a flight from Chicago O’Hare to Honolulu with lots of flying over the ocean. But I digress!

Luce, a divorcee and mother of a college-aged son, leaves for Italy without telling her family her plans. She didn’t want them to stop her. Her sudden trip was intended to find out about her mother’s family in Italy and why there were so many secrets that weren’t shared with her. Even her own mother forbid Luce not go because it’s dangerous.

But, after a lot of digging, she connected with a cousin in Bosconero, Italy on social media, who was going to pick her up at the airport. The two cousins had never met before, yet when they saw one another it was like they’ve known each other all their lives! Her cousin, Matilde, introduced Luce to some friends and did some sight seeing together as well as introducing Luce to their Nonna, grandmother, for the first time.

That Nonna is a story teller! In her 90s and with a heart condition, she creates such a vivid picture of what life was like beginning when she was just a child. Due to her age, Nonna tires easily, so her story telling comes in pieces. And after each piece of the story, Luce was left with even more questions. All the information she learned just didn’t add up.

I’ll admit my favorite character wasn’t even Luce or her Nonna. Rather it was a man who worked with Matilde’s fiancé, Andrea. He sounds handsome and mysterious. If this were a movie, he’d play quite a small part. He took Luce on a tour to a place untouched in over a century. It’s so fascinating I hope to someday visit such a place! Other than going on this excursion with Andrea and her excitement when speaking with him, I’m not quite sure why he needed to be in the story.

Another character, Luce’s uncle Carlos, was stern and angry with Luce and her mother. He refused to speak to Luce to explain his anger. Everyone just seemed to do whatever he said without question. It makes me wonder why no one ever challenge him. Or maybe it was because they were women? His character I felt was oddly part of this loving family.

Among all the questions Luce has, there’s a huge earthquake in the middle of a summer festival evening. The power goes out. Homes and buildings are in crumbles. The dark town of Bosconero is in chaos and everyone’s soon evacuated for safety. Where did Matilda go? Is Nonna safe?

An advanced digital copy of The Lost Village by Daniela Sarcerdoti was provided complimentary by Bookouture via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I give this book 4 out of 5 tiaras because although I was engaged in the storyline and eager to hear the next part of Nonna’s story, I felt some of these characters were either unnecessary or didn’t seem to fit just right. I am curious about this author’s other books as many take place in Italy and I rarely read books about Italy.

Discovering your heritage is an important part of who you are, but what if your mother refuses to acknowledge her family? It makes you question why? Who are they, what happened, where do they live? What if you came across details about them would you go across the world to visit?
Luce found out that her mother was born in a small village in Italy. She was corresponding with a cousin and found out that she had a grandmother and a Uncle!

Oh, wow, she decided to go visit her cousin without telling her mother and meets her grandmother. Her grandmother tells her this story about in 1945 she and her sister both had girls and her sister and baby were killed by German soldiers!

This book has more twists and turns and intrigue that you will be fixated on the historical aspects that it will become unputdownable! The characters are so poignant and interesting they alone will draw you in as well. The author has done an amazing job with her flow and descriptions that you feel like you are with the characters when the Germans were trying to attack.

I definitely would recommend this book to anyone looking for a great read.
If I could give it more stars I would!

I received an advanced copy from NetGalley and these are my willingly given thoughts and opinions.

A beautiful emotional read about family secrets and lies. Really well written with some wonderful characters and descriptions. I was shocked by the ending. I will remember this story for a long time.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Sacerdoti’s heartwarming story, to be published November 16, 2020, will transport you to a little Italian hilltop village. This master storyteller focuses on what happens when we keep secrets as we think it will protect the ones we love.

This is an fantastic read, which I devoured. It deserves every single one of it’s 5 stars and more.

“There was a smell of damp and old in the air, a smell of heavy past; memories hung like cobwebs at every corner.”

It’s the first book I’ve read in a long time, where I didn’t guess what was coming. I didn’t guess the event in the middle, and I certainly didn’t guess the twist at the end. I promise you, that this is a book you are not going to be able to put down.

I have never read any of Sacerdoti’s books before, but I will be reading more now. She is an incredible writer, with the knack to bring you straight into the story. She seems able to build her characters roundly without them becoming to familiar to the reader, and therefore, predictable.

Don’t start this book when you are busy. It needs and deserves your time dedicated to it.

All I can say is wow, to the twists and turns I never expected in this novel. Luce is an American with an Italian born mother, estranged from her family in Italy. Luce was in contact with a cousin, Mathilde, and decides to go to their village of Boscanero to find out what happened to keep her mother away. Once she meets her grandmother, the back story intertwines with the present, with Luce experiencing a horrific earthquake. I loved the character of Luce, the setting in Italy, and the WWII back story. I highly recommend this one, and thank NetGalley for the ARC.

Big thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this title!

This is my first read by this author, and I was pleasantly surprised! Her writing style is exactly what I search for in what I read- straight to the point, not a lot of fluff, interesting and thoroughly crafted characters, and a twist to knock my socks off. I got all of this and more, to my delight!

A fab read, I’ll definitely be back for more from this author.

What a nostalgic tale!
A unforgettable story about secrets, love, loss and finding peace within yourself.
A historical WWll fiction, told in alternating time periods from past to present. Talk about a family having secrets!
The Lost Village certainly takes you on a intriguing journey! There was so much to take in and remember within the story, I did have a bit of a time keeping it all straight in my head. I thought the second half of the book was my favorite. But, with that said, I did enjoy the story and the writing style of the author.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture and author, Daniela Sacerdoti, for the opportunity to read the ARC of this book for my honest opinion. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Publish date: 16 Nov 2020

WOW! Could not put it down once I started.
Lucy, a recently separated 43 year old mother, has decided to fly to Italy and once and for all uncover the secrets of her family her mother refuses to tell her. She found her cousin, whom she had no idea existed, through social media and set out to meet her long lost relatives. But, her arrival in Italy is not all happy reunions. The tension and anger by those who remember her mother, especially her Uncle, startle Lucy. She does meet her Nonna, who is desperate to tell her their family history and what made her mother flee from Italy. But in the middle of the story, tragedy strikes the small village. While still determined to forge a relationship with her long lost relatives, Lucy remains behind to help. What she uncovers will change what she thought she knew about her life forever.
A great story of family, secrets, lies and sacrifice. Highly recommend.
I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is a very immersive experience, once you start this book you won't want to put it down. It has a dual time storyline set between Italy during the war and the modern day . Luce decides to travel to a small village in Italy in the hopes of uncovering a family mystery . Her Italian mother never speaks of the family she left behind to start a new life in America.
Luce meets her Italian Grandmother and the past is told from her perspective .
You never quite know where the author is taking you , you think you are on the verge of uncovering the mystery , only to be taken in a completely different direction. The ending was very surprising and nothing is what it first appeared.
I thoroughly recommend this to readers who enjoy lucinda Riley and Rachel Hore.

A heartbreaking story of murder. betrayal and love. It's a journey through many emotions as you follow the tragedy of so many lives but a catastrophic ending brings a feeling that justice has been achieved. Excellent work.

3.9 Stars

“An emotional World War Two historical romance set in Italy”- this is the tagline of the book.
The story deals with Luce (pronounced Lu- Chay), a 43-year-old woman, who goes to Bosconero, a small village in Italy, to trace her roots. With her mother refusing to answer her questions, her 19-year-old son away at Photography School. Separated from her husband for three years, Luce is determined to know why her mother has erased her past.
She meets Matilde on the internet and flies to Italy (from Seattle) to meet her and connect with her Nonna and Uncle. A disastrous earthquake destroys most of the village and the nearby hamlets. There are tragedies and trauma everywhere. Luce is fighting her instincts (and her family) to not run away to safety. Ethan’s sudden entry surprises her in many ways. She needs to know what happened.
What she uncovers has a much bigger effect than she realizes, but can there possibly be a happy ending, even if it bittersweet? What about her future with Ethan? Is there one?
The cover, the blurb, and the setting made the decision for me. I had to read this book. To a great extent, I’m glad I did. The descriptions, the imagery, and details of the setting were vivid and wonderful. Watching David Rocco’s shows explore Italy, I’ve been fascinated by its countryside. I could picturize the villages, the houses, the people, and streets as I read the book.
Some of the characters are well-etched, especially Luce (she is also the narrator), Matilde, Massimo, Angelina (Luce’s mom), and Nonna. Nonna takes the cake for the number of layers she has. Until the end, we are surprised by the turns in her character. She is the core of the plot. She holds it all together, and in a strange way (no spoilers).
Other characters like Carlo and Ethan had more scope, but being women’s fiction, I suppose the focus was more on the ladies. The story goes into flashbacks in between (easy to follow) and gives us more information.
What I liked was the portrayal of Luce after the earthquake. It’s realistic without being dramatic and overwhelming. She simply doesn’t decide she wants to stay. That doesn’t happen, does it? Her internal conflict, her confusion, her anguish, and her desperation are human and true.
The story is paced well but became a bit too rushed towards the end. The actual reveal was immediately followed by another incident that soon flows into the conclusion and an epilogue. I wish this was paced better. As a reader, I’ve been invested in their lives (the writing is very good and flows beautifully) and wanted to let each incident sink into my memory.
A little more breathing space at that place, and I’d have happily given the story a 4.2 or maybe even more. I had high hopes by then. This is the first book by the author I’ve read, but I’ll be reading more for sure. I like the writing style. Luce has a lot of thoughts; she does express them but doesn’t ramble on and on.
There isn’t much about WW II, though it does play its role in the story. The story focuses on the characters, and the effects of war are just one aspect. It’s the humans who make decisions, and that’s the basis of the story.
Being an uncorrected copy, it had a few typos. Nothing that hindered my reading.
Overall, this is a beautiful book, one that touches various topics and ultimately leaves us with a soft smile.
Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for the ARC copy.

#TheLostVillage #NetGalley

Being a fan of WWII historical fiction, this book was not at all what I expected, and was a surprise in such a good way! Luce's story was a journey to find answers to why her family history was such a secret. She travels to Italy to meet with relatives and to do some investigation as to why her mother didn't share anything with her. The events of the journey were not the usual twist and turns in novels set in this era. I have not read Daniela Sacerdoti before, but will be looking for more of her novels in the future. It is a quick read which had me on the edge of my seat. Highly recommend "The Lost Village".

A captivating story set in post war Italy. A story about family secrets and grow they effect so many lives... down through the years. My night time reading... that I thought about all day.
Thank you to Net Galley for this advanced copy prior to publication. My review is my own and is in no way required by the publisher.

Growing up Luce Nardini always wondered about her mother’s estranged family in Italy. Separated from her husband and with her son off to college, she decides to travel to the small village of Bosconero with the hope of discovering what caused the rift between her long lost relatives. Finding her Grandmother still alive and an uncle that wants nothing whatsoever to do with her, she begins to learn the truth about her family’s history. When disaster strikes and lives are left hanging in the balance, Luce soon discovers that her family all have different versions of the truth.

A great story alternating between the second world war and present day. A gripping tale of family secrets and lies which was an excellent read.

Fantastic!
I have read other Daniela Sacerdoti books and enjoyed the cosy romance of them, but this book was more heart rendering and emotional.
A woman travels to Italy and tries to find her family but finds secrets from long ago.
It had me hooked from the first page. Looking forward to reading more of her books.
Thank you netgalley.

I loved this book, the descriptions brought Italy alive for me, having never been there I found myself feeling the hot sunshine and tasting the wonderful food. The story was a lovely read and kept me interested all the way through. I loved the fact that the author captured the family ties and how Italians are very hospitable welcoming relatives whom they have never met. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

Luce Nardini has always been curious about her mother’s family who live in Italy. Her mother always said “some things are best if left in the past”.

Luce is now an “empty-nester” her son is a young man and she is separated from her husband so believe this m=just might be a good time to find her family. She finds a cousin so travels to Italy to meet her grandmother whom she has never met.
She travels to the beautiful village of Bosconero in the hills outside of Rome.
Her cousin reveals that there is a family drama between her mother and her uncle.

Not my typical read but my paternal grandparents were both born and raised in Italy.
Unfortunately I never got to know them. My grandmother died young in child birth and later my grandfather married started a new family.
My father kept in close contact with brothers/sisters and cousins but not my grandfather.
We visited traveled to relative’s homes~ what seemed like every Sunday.
I remember all too clearly as I got car sick 

Needless to say, this was a good and interesting read for me!
I love the inside info from the author in her “Letter from Daniela” as well as in the Author’s Note!
Ms. Sacerdoti tells us in her “Author’s Note” that although the story is based on the real 2016 earthquake in central Italy, she did use her imagination and took artistic license in describing the events that unfolded.

Want to thank NetGalley and Bookouture for this early release granted in exchange for an honest professional review. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for November 16, 2020

I absolutely adore Daniela Sacerdoti's writing, her books always escort you to a special place with incredibly emotional prose and description that fills the senses. I was not disappointed at all by this latest novel, once again exploring her Italian roots; The Lost Village combines the current journey of discovery for Luce (pronounced Lu-chay) surrounding her family in rural Italy with the secrets of the past in WW2.
There was certainly a blending of nostalgia, romance and possibility, with darker themes of jealousy, death and tragedy. I was hooked throughout but especially the second half of the book, once things take a dramatic turn, I found I couldn't stop thinking about the characters and what was endured, both in the present and the past.
Perfect for fans of historical fiction but also thriller/family drama.

Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review. I'm a massive fan of historical fiction so I was delighted to get my hands on this book. Beautifully written, with lush, sumptuous descriptions. Well researched and gripping, I was in love with this book from the first page.

With thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest review.
Having read most of this author's work,I was delighted to get an early copy what an utterly beautiful and poignant story set in italy against lush backgrounds a wondrous tale unfolds totally captivating from beginning to end I really can't praise this book enough.